Identification of a Continuous Neutralizing Epitope within UL128 of Human Cytomegalovirus. 2017

Flavia Chiuppesi, and Teodora Kaltcheva, and Zhuo Meng, and Peter A Barry, and Don J Diamond, and Felix Wussow
Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA.

As human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most common infectious cause of fetal anomalies during pregnancy, development of a vaccine that prevents HCMV infection is considered a global health priority. Although HCMV immune correlates of protection are only poorly defined, neutralizing antibodies (NAb) targeting the envelope pentamer complex (PC) composed of the subunits gH, gL, UL128, UL130, and UL131A are thought to contribute to the prevention of HCMV infection. Here, we describe a continuous target sequence within UL128 that is recognized by a previously isolated potent PC-specific NAb termed 13B5. By using peptide-based scanning procedures, we identified a 13-amino-acid-long target sequence at the UL128 C terminus that binds the 13B5 antibody with an affinity similar to that of the purified PC. In addition, the 13B5 binding site is universally conserved in HCMV, contains a previously described UL128/gL interaction site, and interferes with the 13B5 neutralizing function, indicating that the 13B5 epitope sequence is located within the PC at a site of critical importance for HCMV neutralization. Vaccination of mice with peptides containing the 13B5 target sequence resulted in the robust stimulation of binding antibodies and, in a subset of immunized animals, in the induction of detectable NAb, supporting that the identified 13B5 target sequence constitutes a PC-specific neutralizing epitope. These findings provide evidence for the discovery of a continuous neutralizing epitope within the UL128 subunit of the PC that could be an important target of humoral immune responses that are involved in protection against congenital HCMV infection.IMPORTANCE Neutralizing antibodies (NAb) targeting the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) envelope pentamer complex (PC) are thought to be important for preventing HCMV transmission from the mother to the fetus, thereby mitigating severe developmental disabilities in newborns. However, the epitope sequences within the PC that are recognized by these potentially protective antibody responses are only poorly defined. Here, we provide evidence for the existence of a highly conserved, continuous, PC-specific epitope sequence that appears to be located within the PC at a subunit interaction site of critical importance for HCMV neutralization. These discoveries provide insights into a continuous PC-specific neutralizing epitope, which could be an important target for a vaccine formulation to interfere with congenital HCMV infection.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008562 Membrane Glycoproteins Glycoproteins found on the membrane or surface of cells. Cell Surface Glycoproteins,Surface Glycoproteins,Cell Surface Glycoprotein,Membrane Glycoprotein,Surface Glycoprotein,Glycoprotein, Cell Surface,Glycoprotein, Membrane,Glycoprotein, Surface,Glycoproteins, Cell Surface,Glycoproteins, Membrane,Glycoproteins, Surface,Surface Glycoprotein, Cell,Surface Glycoproteins, Cell
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000914 Antibodies, Viral Immunoglobulins produced in response to VIRAL ANTIGENS. Viral Antibodies
D001665 Binding Sites The parts of a macromolecule that directly participate in its specific combination with another molecule. Combining Site,Binding Site,Combining Sites,Site, Binding,Site, Combining,Sites, Binding,Sites, Combining
D014759 Viral Envelope Proteins Integral membrane proteins that are incorporated into the VIRAL ENVELOPE. They are glycosylated during VIRAL ASSEMBLY. Envelope Proteins, Viral,Viral Envelope Glycoproteins,Viral Envelope Protein,Virus Envelope Protein,Virus Peplomer Proteins,Bovine Leukemia Virus Glycoprotein gp51,Hepatitis Virus (MHV) Glycoprotein E2,LaCrosse Virus Envelope Glycoprotein G1,Simian Sarcoma Virus Glycoprotein 70,Viral Envelope Glycoprotein gPr90 (Murine Leukemia Virus),Viral Envelope Glycoprotein gp55 (Friend Virus),Viral Envelope Proteins E1,Viral Envelope Proteins E2,Viral Envelope Proteins gp52,Viral Envelope Proteins gp70,Virus Envelope Proteins,Envelope Glycoproteins, Viral,Envelope Protein, Viral,Envelope Protein, Virus,Envelope Proteins, Virus,Glycoproteins, Viral Envelope,Peplomer Proteins, Virus,Protein, Viral Envelope,Protein, Virus Envelope,Proteins, Viral Envelope,Proteins, Virus Envelope,Proteins, Virus Peplomer
D017124 Conserved Sequence A sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide or of nucleotides in DNA or RNA that is similar across multiple species. A known set of conserved sequences is represented by a CONSENSUS SEQUENCE. AMINO ACID MOTIFS are often composed of conserved sequences. Conserved Sequences,Sequence, Conserved,Sequences, Conserved
D051379 Mice The common name for the genus Mus. Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus
D057134 Antibodies, Neutralizing Antibodies that reduce or abolish some biological activity of a soluble antigen or infectious agent, usually a virus. Neutralizing Antibodies,Antibody, Neutralizing,Neutralizing Antibody
D018604 Epitope Mapping Methods used for studying the interactions of antibodies with specific regions of protein antigens. Important applications of epitope mapping are found within the area of immunochemistry. Epitope Mappings,Mapping, Epitope,Mappings, Epitope
D018985 Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte Antigenic determinants recognized and bound by the B-cell receptor. Epitopes recognized by the B-cell receptor are located on the surface of the antigen. B-Cell Epitopes,B-Lymphocyte Epitopes,B-Cell Epitope,B-Lymphocyte Epitope,B Cell Epitope,B Cell Epitopes,B Lymphocyte Epitope,B Lymphocyte Epitopes,Epitope, B-Cell,Epitope, B-Lymphocyte,Epitopes, B Lymphocyte,Epitopes, B-Cell

Related Publications

Flavia Chiuppesi, and Teodora Kaltcheva, and Zhuo Meng, and Peter A Barry, and Don J Diamond, and Felix Wussow
January 2015, Journal of virology,
Flavia Chiuppesi, and Teodora Kaltcheva, and Zhuo Meng, and Peter A Barry, and Don J Diamond, and Felix Wussow
May 1989, Journal of virology,
Flavia Chiuppesi, and Teodora Kaltcheva, and Zhuo Meng, and Peter A Barry, and Don J Diamond, and Felix Wussow
June 2014, Vaccine,
Flavia Chiuppesi, and Teodora Kaltcheva, and Zhuo Meng, and Peter A Barry, and Don J Diamond, and Felix Wussow
August 2013, Journal of virology,
Flavia Chiuppesi, and Teodora Kaltcheva, and Zhuo Meng, and Peter A Barry, and Don J Diamond, and Felix Wussow
August 2021, Journal of virology,
Flavia Chiuppesi, and Teodora Kaltcheva, and Zhuo Meng, and Peter A Barry, and Don J Diamond, and Felix Wussow
December 2022, Virology journal,
Flavia Chiuppesi, and Teodora Kaltcheva, and Zhuo Meng, and Peter A Barry, and Don J Diamond, and Felix Wussow
January 2014, Acta virologica,
Flavia Chiuppesi, and Teodora Kaltcheva, and Zhuo Meng, and Peter A Barry, and Don J Diamond, and Felix Wussow
July 2021, Molecular immunology,
Flavia Chiuppesi, and Teodora Kaltcheva, and Zhuo Meng, and Peter A Barry, and Don J Diamond, and Felix Wussow
February 2013, Journal of virology,
Flavia Chiuppesi, and Teodora Kaltcheva, and Zhuo Meng, and Peter A Barry, and Don J Diamond, and Felix Wussow
January 2021, NPJ vaccines,
Copied contents to your clipboard!